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3DPRINTUK, a London-based industrial 3D printing service provider, is pleased to announce the addition of a new Polymer Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) 3D printing process centred around Stratasys' SAF technology to its portfolio of industrial manufacturing systems. This further expands the London, UK-based 3DPRINTUK's manufacturing capabilities and production capacity, expanding on the suite of EOS Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and HP MultiJet Fusion (MJF) machines the company has operated for over 10 years.
SAF (Selective Absorption Fusion) technology, like MJF, is based on a rapid sintering process developed by Professor Neil Hopkinson, who has been vice president of additive manufacturing technologies at Stratasys since November 2021. The focus of this production-grade AM process is to produce large quantities of accurate, consistent and repeatable parts.
“Over the years we have built a reputation as a service provider offering high-quality polymer 3D printed parts on demand, which means we have extensive expertise and experience in this field. When Stratasys introduced the SAF process it was a new and interesting proposition that couldn't be ignored, and the addition of the SAF H350 machine fits smoothly into our wider portfolio. Incidentally, the SAF H350 system is the first of its kind to be used by a UK service provider, so we are excited to show our customers what it is capable of. And in keeping with 3DPRINTUK tradition, we have tested the system to the extreme for over 18 months to ensure the consistency and quality of the parts meet 3DPRINTUK standards. Having the machine as part of our service will significantly expand our production volumes and capabilities,” says Nick Allen, CEO of 3DPRINTUK.
The SAF H350 system has been specially developed by Stratasys to produce highly efficient part volumes with high nesting density capabilities, which also reduces the cost per part.
For 3DPRINTUK, these were important considerations in adding SAF, but another key driver behind the purchase was that the SAF system would enable the company to add a new material to its polymer lineup: Polyamide 11 (PA11). While the SAF platform can process a range of polymer materials, 3DPRINTUK will focus solely on PA11.
PA11 is a nylon material produced by the polymerization of 11-aminoundecanoic acid. It is made from renewable resources derived from natural plants and castor oil raw materials, resulting in less environmental impact from powder production to the end of the product's life. PA11 is stronger, less stiff, and more impact resistant than P12. It is also more heat resistant, light stable, and resistant to water and moisture.
Coming out of the machine, PA11 SAF parts look very similar to MJF parts, but with slightly sharper detail thanks to Stratasys' latest high resolution print mode update. The material is suitable for a variety of applications including automotive interior parts, electrical enclosures, drone parts, part series and mechanically loaded functional prototypes. All parts produced using SAF can be finished using 3DPRINTUK's extensive range of post-processing options.
With the launch of new material SAF PA11 ECO, the company is offering free sample parts with every order, allowing customers to test the material on their parts with no financial risk. To take advantage of the opportunity, customers can upload their own design, up to the value of £10, and select SAF PA11 as a material option, or 3DPRINTUK can also include a pre-designed sample with the customer's order.
